Separation of Powers: What’s for Lunch?

Separation of Powers:What’s for Lunch?

How would you rate your school’s lunches?

Designing a New Menu: • Today, you and your classmates are in charge of designing a new menu for your school lunches! • One catch - it must be healthy!!! • Second catch – no single student can decide this on his or her own. This will be a group effort!

Round 1: Choosing the Categories • Role = Lead Chef • Examine the menu options. • Debate amongst yourselves, and then CIRCLE the 5 categories for your menu upon which you can all agree. • Remember, it must be healthy! STOP WHEN YOU’RE DONE!

Round 2: Creating the Menu • Role: The Writers • Using the categories that the “Lead Chef” developed, you are to choose what foods to serve. • Tip: Your menu must match the categories that the writers created. STOP WHEN YOU’RE DONE!

Round 3: Move Forward or Try Again? • Role = Lead Chef • If you agree with what the WRITERS came up with, vote YES for the menu to be made. • If you do not like what the WRITERS decided, vote NO. This is a VETO! STOP WHEN YOU’RE DONE!

Round 4: Where to go now? • If the Lead Chef said YES, your menu is one step closer to being made! • If the Lead Chef said NO, then the WRITERS must vote again on the menu. • If everyone likes the menu you created, it moves ahead. • If everyone does not agree, you would try again to write something the Lead Chef would agree with. However, there is not time for this today. STOP WHEN YOU’RE DONE!

Round 5: Evaluating the Results • Role: The Judge • You have 2 important responsibilities: • Decide what “healthy” means. (2)Decide if the school lunch menu meets your definition of healthy. STOP WHEN YOU’RE DONE!

Final Result: Will your lunch be made? • Raise your hand if your lunch will be made? • Raise your hand if your lunch will NOT be made?

Quick Review: What was the goal? To make a healthy school lunch! • Round 1: • The Lead Chef chose the categories. • Round 2: • The Writers decided on the menu. • Round 3: • The Lead Chef said yes or no to the menu. • Round 4: • The Writers’ menu was approved by voting to overrule the Chef (if needed). • Round 5: • The Judges evaluated whether the menu was healthy. • Final Result: • Either the lunch will be made or it will not! • If not, this all starts over from the beginning!

In order for this to happen, what had to occur? • Each group had to perform its role. • Each group had to follow the rules. • The final product was a compromise of all three groups.

Connecting School Lunches to Your Government: • The Lead Chef = Executive Branch • The Writers = Legislative Branch • The Judge = Judicial Branch • Your goal = Making School Lunches • The 3 Branches’ Goal = Making Laws

Role 1: The Executive Branch • Main Part: The President • President’s job – There are several! • Set important issues for Congress to work on • Signs bills into law • Or says no, which is called a VETO • Is the boss of the government and makes sure the government carries out all the laws • Who does the President care about? ALL Americans

Role 2: The Legislative Branch • Main Part: Congress • Includes: • The House of Representatives • The Senate • Job: Write and pass bills • Who do they care about? Their voters

Role 3: The Judicial Branch • Main Part: The Supreme Court • Their job: To make sure the other two branches are playing by the rules! • What do they represent? The Constitution, which is the official rulebook for the U.S. government.

Let’s Review: • What’s the goal? • To make laws! • What must happen? • Round 1: President sets ideas for bills. • Round 2: Congress writes and passes bills. • Round 3: President says yes or no (VETO) • Round 4: If yes, bill is a law. If no, Congress votes again and tries to override the President. • Round 5: Supreme Court evaluates whether the law meets the rules of the Constitution. • Final Product: A Law or nothing! • If a law … then the lunches will be made! Bonus Question: Which branch would make the lunch (i.e. carry out the law)?

Today I Learned:

Separation of Powers: What’s for Lunch?